Protect Your Animals in an Emergency: MDARD Recognizes National Preparedness Month

Taking time to plan and prepare now can help keep your animals healthy, happy, and safe during an emergency

LANSING, MI - If there was a flood, fire, tornado, or other disaster affecting your community, what would you do to protect yourself and your animals? This September, in honor of National Preparedness Month, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) encourages owners to take steps to ensure their animals are protected during an emergency. Taking time to plan and gather supplies now can help animals stay safe and healthy throughout any crisis.

"At MDARD, we know being able to respond quickly and effectively is essential to mitigating the impact of any hazardous event," said State Veterinarian Dr. Nora Wineland, DVM, MS, DACVPM. "While it is important to have transportation, food, medications, and other supplies ready for ourselves, it is just as crucial to have these resources for our animals. Emergencies affect everyone."

Be ready to protect your animals by taking these five easy steps:

• Bag it: Have a go-kit ready for your animals.

If there is a need to evacuate, make sure there is a go-kit ready with all the supplies your animals would need to be comfortable for a few days. Consider including a few days' supply of food, water, and medications as well as leashes/harnesses, food scoops/can openers, bowls, litter pans/waste bags, grooming tools, and any beds or bedding needed. You could also include one of their favorite toys to help reduce their stress and keep them calm.

• Practice it: Make sure your animals are comfortable with their crates, carriers, or trailers.

An emergency should not be the first time you are corralling your animals and getting them into their carriers or trailers for travel. To reduce any stress or fear, place open carriers or trailers in areas where the animals can see and explore them, give them treats near or after they have gone into these items, and practice closing them in.

• Arrange it: Know where you can go with your animals.

While service animals are usually welcome at a shelter or evacuation center for people, pets or other animals most often are not. Be sure to make arrangements with trusted family members or friends, find pet-friendly hotels, or locate kennels or other types of boarding facilities that could take your animals.

• Tag it: Make sure animals have proper identification.

Emergencies are stressful and chaotic. Animals can easily sneak away, become lost, or get separated from you. Make sure they have identification tags and/or microchips that are up to date with your current contact information, ensuring a better chance they can be returned home.

Also, having current pictures of yourself with your animals and being able to describe them in detail (breed, age, sex, color/markings, and distinctive behaviors) can help with reunification.

• Document it: Keep animals up to date on routine vaccinations and have a copy of their medical records.

During an emergency, you never know what your animals may be exposed to. Vaccinations can protect them against common diseases, such as rabies and distemper. Contact your veterinarian to ensure your animals vaccinations are complete and/or to schedule an appointment.

Maintain a copy of their vaccine and testing records as well as any other information related to their medical conditions. These documents can help if animals need to move out of state or if someone else is in charge of their care.

Taking these proactive steps can help keep your animals healthy, happy, and safe throughout any natural or man-made disaster. For more information on how to ensure your animals are ready for an emergency, please talk to your veterinarian and visit MIReady or Ready.gov.

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